Dominoes, Danzón, and Death

Book Review: "Dominoes, Danzón, and Death" by Raquel V. Reyes 📚

Rating: 2.5 Stars

When I picked up "Dominoes, Danzón, and Death" by Raquel V. Reyes, I was immediately drawn in by its delightful cover—it's colorful and definitely eye-catching. This fourth installment in the Caribbean Kitchen mystery series follows the culinary adventures of Latina sleuth Miriam Quiñones-Smith. Miriam is not just a food anthropologist but also the star of a hit Spanglish culinary show called "Abuela Approved." Life seems pretty sweet for her in Miami until a series of macabre discoveries throws everything into chaos. 🌴🔍

The plot kicks off when human bones surface at her husband Robert’s hotel construction site, bringing a slew of experts and a pompous academic into the fray. As if that weren't enough, a fake skeleton with "Smith" etched into it appears in the bay, leaving Miriam to wonder if it's an ominous message directed at her family. Things take another dark turn when Delvis, Miriam's boss, gets embroiled in a murder investigation after a heated confrontation with a tour guide who later turns up dead. With her loved ones at risk, Miriam is on a mission to unearth the truth. 🦴💥

Now, here’s where my experience starts to waver. I really enjoyed the first book in this series—it had a great balance of mystery and cultural flair. However, my enthusiasm dwindled with book two, and unfortunately, I had similar feelings about this one. While the culinary descriptions are as mouthwatering as ever (seriously, don't read this on an empty stomach), and the recipes at the end are a nice touch for food enthusiasts, the frequent use of Spanish without translation became a stumbling block for me. 🍽️🇪🇸

In the first book, some Spanish with English translations was charming and added authenticity. But in this installment, whole paragraphs in Spanish left me more confused than captivated. If you’re fluent or enjoy piecing together languages, you might not find this an issue. For me, though, it interrupted the flow of an otherwise intriguing mystery. 🤔📖

In conclusion, "Dominoes, Danzón, and Death" might be a hit for those who relish cultural immersion and culinary delights. But if language barriers frustrate you as they did me, you might find yourself struggling to stay engaged with the narrative. So while it wasn’t my favorite in the series, it still has its merits for the right audience. 2.5 stars from me. 🌟🔍

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️